Stephen Colbert reveals he plans 'a lot of drinking and singing' after 'The Late Show' ends
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: TV host and comedian Stephen Colbert has revealed how he plans to spend the day after the final episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' airs in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.
Colbert shared that instead of focusing on himself after the long-running show concludes, he will immediately join his family for a major personal celebration. The final episode of the show is scheduled to air on Thursday, May 21, marking the end of his 11-season run as host.
Stephen Colbert shares plans after ‘The Late Show’ finale
According to Colbert, the day after the show ends, “We’re all taking the train down together to Washington, DC, for my brother Tommy’s wedding,” Colbert told the outlet, “So I’m really happy that the focus is not on me. The focus is on my brother Tommy and his beautiful bride, Becky.”
The late-night host joked that the gathering would involve "a lot of drinking and singing," noting that men in his family believe they have strong singing voices. He described the situation as “the great danger” of the family while expressing excitement.
Colbert also said that another major family milestone is taking place the same week, "My son John is graduating from college that week too, so there’s a lot going on that’s about other people I love instead of just me."
The Late Show was launched in 1993 with David Letterman serving as host until 2015, before Colbert took over the program. He announced the long-running series’ cancellation after nearly 33 years in July 2025, telling viewers that he found out about the decision the previous evening.
“I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away,” he clarified. At the time, CBS claimed they canceled the series as a “purely financial decision” and “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Stephen Colbert reflects on the show’s ending and dispute
The interview also addressed Colbert’s reaction to learning about the cancellation. The comedian recalled, “I was lying on the couch in my office with a sock over my eyes because I had a headache, And my manager called me and said, ‘So I guess you heard.’ And I sat up and said, ‘No?’”
He added, “And he told me. And I said, ‘You need to say that again.’” The cancellation came after he publicly criticized CBS parent company, Paramount, over its reported $16 million settlement connected to a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump involving a '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
At the time, Paramount was pursuing a merger with Skydance that required approval from the Trump administration. Reflecting on the conclusion of his late-night tenure, Colbert admitted that he did not expect the show to end so soon but acknowledged that hosting a nightly program demanded enormous energy.
He further said, “I thought I’d do it longer, But I’m also aware that I’ve been doing this kind of work for 31 years. I’ve been on TV for 31 years. And there are a lot of things I’d like to do while I still have the energy and curiosity.”
Colbert continued, “I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do that I couldn’t do while doing this show.” One project already in development involves a 'The Lord of the Rings' film that Colbert has been writing with his son Peter.
He explained that the idea "during COVID, and I’ve been working with Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh for almost two years now.” Despite that ongoing work, Colbert said he has mainly been concentrating on finishing the show before deciding what comes next in his career.
